Parcels at post office

THE long-awaited return of a post office in Christchurch is set to finally take place today - a day later than planned. Following the closure of the previous branch in Church Street (inset below), the town centre has been without a facility to access post office services for 21 months. After lengthy discussions with the Post Office Ltd and a number of interested parties, a new postmaster was agreed and a site finalised in the middle of the town. Initially the new branch in Saxon Square was advertised to open yesterday, but this was pushed back following issues relating to the phone line and IT software at the store. Computer systems are due to be installed this morning, with the post office opening at 2pm. Speaking to the Daily Echo yesterday, postmaster Hiren Modi said he was looking forward to providing a post office for the people of Christchurch. “I’m very excited about opening here in Christchurch,” Mr Modi said. “I’ve wanted this to … [Read more...] about Post office services back in Christchurch from today (hopefully)

A NEW Post Office is to be unveiled at a Stourport convenience store next month. The branch will be based at Burlish Stores, in Calder Road, Stourport and will open on Friday, February 16 at 1pm. An official opening will take place at a later date. It will be open seven days a week for a total of 97 hours and is part of the Post Office’s ‘modernisation and investment’ programme across its network. Services that will be offered to customers at Burlish Stores Post Office include posting letters and parcels and collecting and returning online shopping items. People and small businesses will also be able to access bank services, including cash withdrawals and balance enquiries. Branch opening hours will be 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 7am to 8pm on a Sunday. Post Office bosses said the new branch will offer more convenience for Stourport residents while extending their network demonstrates a commitment to the town. Karen Coles, Network Operations … [Read more...] about New Post Office to open in Stourport next month

0 Have your say In London last week I was paying for stamps in a post office, having waited in a queue to do so for the longest possible time, to be met with, “Foreign money, eh?” and a suspicious turning from one side to the other of the crisp £20 note I’d just handed over. Then the very jolly postmaster – originally from Delhi, he later told me – turned to his wife, who was also serving customers, and let out a great pleased-with-himself laugh. “Foreign money indeed, for you see, it’s Scottish!” he cried, and she joined in with the fun. “And therefore,” I was then able to say, when the laughter had died down, “thank goodness, and for now, at least...The money is not foreign at all.” At this, the whole queue erupted into a relieved discussion about the benefits of Union. “Let’s make sure Scotland never becomes a foreign country to the rest of the UK” was the general consensus in the … [Read more...] about Kirsty Gunn: Post office gets my stamp of approval

THE postal union boss behind next week’s five days of strikes has a conviction for assaulting a cop.And Dave Ward is proud to call himself a member of the “awkward squad”.Mr Ward, 57, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, was found guilty of kicking the officer in a 2008 pub fight.Mr Ward was detained after he stepped in to stop a fight involving his son, according to reports, but during his arrest the union boss kicked a PC, injuring the constable’s shoulder.He was found guilty of assaulting the officer at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, fined £600 and also ordered to pay compensation to the officer of £100.Next week’s five days of strikes at Crown Post Offices across the UK involve thousands of workers - and could disrupt the delivery of millions of Christmas cards and parcels.Mr Ward, a father of four, was chosen as CWU boss in June last year.The father of four, who lives in Chessington, Surrey, and according to company … [Read more...] about Union boss behind Post Office Christmas strikes has conviction for assaulting a cop

POST Office workers have voted to stage a five-day strike starting next Monday that threatens Christmas chaos.Thousands of staff will walk out in a dispute over jobs, pensions and branch closures.The action will begin on 19 December and include Christmas Eve.This year's last day for first-class Christmas post had been 21 December.Shop counter staff will walk out on December 19, 20 and Christmas Eve, while cash handlers are preparing to strike on December 22 and 23.It will involve staff at large high street Crown Post Offices.Post Office chiefs have tried to play down the action, saying "at least" 97 per cent of of its 11,600 branches would remain unaffected.Union bosses have already warned the strike will disrupt deliveries in the run-up to Christmas.But they say the action is necessary to save people’s jobs as more than 6,000 Post Offices have closed since 2002.Andrew Furey, assistant general secretary of the CWU, said: “It will be absolute chaos in the lead-up … [Read more...] about Post Office staff to go on five day-strike strike next week that is set to cause Christmas post chaos

POST office workers began a five day walkout today – with thousand of Royal Mail workers threatening to join them.The delivery staff could take unofficial industrial action at the same time as a separate strike over jobs, pensions and branch closures delaying millions of Christmas presents.Some 4,000 workers are involved in the walk out which will see 300 post offices close or operate a skeleton service.The strike is due to start today with a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Government’s Business Department.Shop counter staff will walk out on December 19, 20 and Christmas Eve, while cash handlers are preparing to strike on December 22 and 23.It will involve staff at large high street Crown Post Offices.The strike is set to last five days in total.Some 4,000 workers are involved in the walk out which will see 300 post offices close or operate a skeleton service.However, Post Office say 97% of its 11,600 branches will be open and just 3% will … [Read more...] about When is the Post Office strike and how will it affect Christmas post? Here’s what we know

STAFF at Royal Mail have reportedly threatening new wildcat strikes which could delay millions of Christmas cards and presents.An additional 1,000 Royal Mail delivery staff could take unofficial industrial action at the same time as a separate five-day strike over jobs, pensions and branch closures.The postmen and women are expected to refuse to cross the picket line and collect from the strike-hit branches, The Telegraph has reported.A source said the strike would cause "absolute chaos" and have a "huge impact" on services in the run up to Christmas, and create a "bottleneck on the system" with customers hoping to post Christmas cards and presents before the final posting dates.Sources have also said that if the wildcat action lead to punishment from managers the unions may formally vote for strike action.The strike is due to start today with a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Government's Business Department, according to Sky News.Workers are protesting about job losses, … [Read more...] about Thousands of Royal Mail workers could join Post Office strikes holding Christmas hostage

THOUSANDS of Post Office workers are threatening Christmas chaos with the prospect of a five-day strike over branch closures and job losses.Shop counter staff are threatening to walk out on December 19, 20 and Christmas Eve, while cash handlers are preparing to strike on December 22 and 23.The combined industrial action is being threatened by members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).Union bosses have warned the strike will disrupt deliveries in the run-up to Christmas.However, they say the action is necessary to save people's jobs as more than 6,000 Post Offices have closed since 2002.If the action goes ahead it will involve 4,000 workers and 300 Post Offices will either shut up shop or operate with skeleton staff.Hundreds more smaller branches, many of which will be in the countryside, will struggle as they won't receive their usual cash delivery.The workers are threatening to strike over job losses, branch closures, and the end of a final salary pension scheme.Andrew … [Read more...] about Post Office strikes to bring festive mail chaos as staff plan five-day walk-out

THOUSANDS of Post Office staff are to stage a fresh strike in a dispute over pensions.Unite have said the 24-hour walkout on December 3 will disrupt overseas Christmas mail and parcels.Around 720 managers will take action, the third 24-hour strike in a long-running pensions' dispute.The managers will be joining a strike by members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which is in dispute over jobs and the franchising of Crown Post Offices as well as the closure of a final salary pension scheme.In October members of the CWU went on strike over job losses, pension concerns and the future of the Post Office.CWU general secretary Dave Ward said at the time: "The Post Office is now at crisis point – it needs a new strategy as a matter of urgency."No-one is thinking of the future. This isn’t good for workers, it isn’t good for customers and it isn’t good for the future of the business."The CWU will not simply stand by and see another British industry … [Read more...] about Major disruption to Christmas letters and parcels expected as hundreds of Post Office managers plan 24-hour walkout

A FURIOUS gift giver has accused the Post Office of ruining Christmas after her parcel was slapped with a sticker marking exactly what was inside the present.Julie-Anne Powell was horrified when she went to send her friend a gift for the festive season but the surprise was immediately ruined when the staff member ticked 'perfume' before mailing it.She told The Sun Online: “I wrapped up the gift in proper Christmas wrapping then put it into one of those plastic mail bags.“The lady asked what was in it, what was the value and I told her.“She then peeled off a great big 15cm by 10cm sticker, with a great big warning sign and looked down the list of options and ticked what it was.”Julie-Anne said she was immediately furious while trying to post the item at Kettering town centre's Post Office this morning.She said: “I said ‘what on Earth have you gone and done that for. The person receiving this is going to know exactly what is in it'."It completely … [Read more...] about Post Office ruin Christmas surprises by putting stickers on presents revealing what’s inside